At the national conclave of the Federation of Associations of Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant highlighted tourism as a key sector to counter potential economic impacts from US trade tariffs.
“In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, no other sector can beat ‘Trumpian tariffs’ like tourism,” said Kant, urging radical reforms including simplifying GST into two slabs, streamlining personal tax, removing restrictive quality control orders, reducing input taxes, and improving urban cleanliness to attract global visitors.
Kant proposed an allocation of ₹20,000 crore for aggressive international promotion of India’s tourism, aiming to penetrate new markets and strengthen the country’s global brand.
“This is the moment to make India the most competitive economy in the world. Tourism can drive growth and job creation more than any other sector,” he added.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), India’s travel and tourism sector is projected to contribute nearly ₹42 trillion to the economy by 2035, supporting 64 million jobs.
